Funmigurumi Hippos

I have a blog totally dedicated to bears I design following the style of amigurumi toys up to a point, that point is where my creative juices start flowing and I run after them! Each one of my bears has a personality all its own, and a face all its own. But I also love to work for children's charities and this year, aside from other things, I'm making toys. I've decided to start this little corner to share these toys and also any other children's patterns I come up with.

My first installment will be these Funmigurumi Hippos.
I call them that way because they are super easy to make, and if you, as I did, choose vibrant and happy colors, the kids will go wild for them!
I named my first ones Buddy, Buster and Bailey, and they went to a charity for abused children.
This pattern belongs to me and I share it freely, with the understanding that you will not sell it nor post it under your name. You may use it for gifts or charity all you want. If you make some of these hippos for charity, let me know, it will really make my day special! Thanks.
Here's the pattern. Enjoy!Materials:
Worsted weight yarn of 3 different but compatible colors
a little bit of black yarn
H crochet hook
E crochet hook
blunt needle
scissors
pins
measuring tape
fiberfill stuffingNote: Before you start your hippo, choose the colors you are going to use. Write in a piece of paper, which coloryou will be using for the muzzle and which two colors you will be using for the body. Decide if you will be matching the ears to the muzzle or to one of the colors of the body, etc. Wtire it down in a pice of paper, and personalize your Hippo!
Follow that color scheme as you work the pattern.Body: With H hook and color 1, ch 32. Row 1- 1 sc in 3rd ch from hk and in every ch across. Ch 1, turn.
Row 2-11: 1 sc in every sc across, ch 1, turn. Row 12-22: Change to color 2 (leaving long tail to sew with) sc in every sc across. Ch 1, turn. Cut yarn, leaving long tail to sew with.

Muzzle: With hook H and Pumpkin, ch 11.
Rnd 1- 1 sc in 3rd ch from hook and all across till your reach the last ch, make 3 sc in that chain. Do not turn, work 1 sc in each loop at the other side of the chain, till last ch, make 3 sc in last loop, sl st to end rnd.

Rnd 2- Ch 1, 1 sc in same spot, 1 sc in each of next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, sl st to end rnd.

Rnd 3- Ch 1, 1 sc in each of next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 10 sc, 2 sc in last sc, sl st to end rnd.

Rnd 4-Ch 1, 1 sc in each of next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 10 sc, 2 sc in last sc. Sl st to join rnd.

Rnd 5- Ch 1, 1 sc in same spot, 1 sc in each of next 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 11 sc, 2 sc in last sc, sl st to stitch made after ch 1, to join rnd.

Rnd 6- Ch 1, 1 sc in same spot, 1 sc in each of next 11 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 12 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in last sc, sl st to join to first sc of rnd (skipping beginning ch 1).

Optional: With black warn and blunt needle, make 2 cross stitches, one on each side of muzzle, to immitate nostrils. You can also make a black dot or a small dash as I did. See photos. Fasten off.Arms-With H hook and color #1, ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sl st to join rnd. Rnd 2- 2 sc in each sc around.
Rnds 3-6: Rep rnd 2. Fasten off. Change color. Rnd 7- Join color #2, ch 1, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in last sc, sl st to join rnd. Rnd 8- Ch 1, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc innext sc, 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in ext sc, 1 sc in each of next 6 sc, sl st to join rnd. Rnd 9- Ch 1, 1 sc in each of next 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, sl st to end rnd. Rnds 10-11: 1 sc in each sc around. Sl st to join rnd. Fastenoff, leavinglong tail to sew with.Legs- With H hook and color #1, ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hk. Sl st to join rnd. Rnd 2- Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around. Sl st to join rnd. Rnd 3- 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. Sl st to end rnd. Rnd 4- ch 1, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in each sc to end of rnd, sl st to end rnd. Rnd 5- 1 sc in each sc around. sl st to join rnd. Rnd 6- Rep rnd 5. Fasten off. Change color. Rnd 7- Join muzzle color, ch 1, 1 sc in each sc around. Sl st to end rnd. Rnds 8-13: Rep rnd 7. Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew with.Eyes (make 2)- You can use purchased safety eyes. I used handmade eyes which keep the lovable homespun quality of the toy. With Hook size h and a little bit of black yarn, ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew with.Ears (make 4 per toy)- With muzzle color and using size "H" hk, ch 3, make 3 dc in 3rd ch from hk. Change to size e hook and ch 1, sc all around th ear. Fasten off leaving long tail. Repeat this 4 times (leave a long tail in only 2 of them to sew.)Bangs- With H hook and muzzle color, ch 18, 1 sc in 7th ch from hk, 1 sc in next sc, ch 6, 1 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc, ch 6, 1 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc, across. Last two loops, do not make 1 sc in between. Fasten off.Finishing-Put both right side pieces of body facing each other, with the wrong sides facing you, using the blunt needle and the long tails you left, whipstitch the sides first. How to sew the bangs: Using measuring tape or ruler, measure the two ends of hte toy, looking for the center, mark. When you are about to sew the top of the toy, insert the bang strip into the "pocket" formed by the half-sewn toy, with the wrong side of the bang facing inward, touching the fabric of the crocheted toy and the loops of the beginning chain of the bang facing upward, align it between the marks that you made, to make sure it is centered in the "face" of the toy, align it also with the edge of the top of the toy and the loops you are going to sew it through, whipstitch, inserting the needle through both sides of the toy and the bang at the same time, pull firmly but not twisting the toy. Fasten off. Sew ears in place to both ends of the headas follows: First, whipstitch two ear pieces to each other, then sew them to the corner of the head as seen in picture. Fasten off. Stuff arms lightly and sew in place guiding yourself by the photos. Stuff the body of the hippo and whipsitch bottom of body. Fasten off. Stuff legs lightly and sew in place. Tail; Cut two 51"-long pieces of yarn of every color used to make the toy (6 strands in total). Fold in half. Tie a small piece of yarn of a contrasting color (do not make a tight knot since you will be taking that off) tie this to a door knob, a chair or where you find it comfortable, divide the strands so that you'll have 3 groups of 4 strands each. Braid. Tie a piece of yarn at bottom, leaving a tassel. Snip off excess. Sew tail to 5th row of sc at the back of the hippo, counting from the bottom of the body.
You're done!

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About Me

I'm a writer, translator, craftster and artist. A bookworm, a vegan food and crafts blogger, pet lover and gardener, not in that
order and not at the same time, although sometimes, it might seem that way. I'm an enthusiast of almost everything handmade. I can do many crafts, but would still like to
learn many more. I love to do things for children's charities and to look at a gorgeous sunset. At home we have 2 dogs and a cat.
All of our pets have been rescued from the Pound. I am an avid crocheter since childhood and can design my own patterns which I really enjoy.